Government consults on waste prevention programme

As part of a wide package of measures that will be linked together in the UK Environment Bill The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has launched a consultation document on a Waste Prevention Programme for England. This sets out the background to the government thinking on reducing and managing waste and what incentives and schemes might be introduced to work towards the agreed goals.

The background of the consultation is founded on two overarching objectives maximising resource use and minimising waste and its impact on the environment.

Furniture is one of the industries highlighted in the report with a dedicated chapter. It has been estimated that 2.5% of waste from UK households is furniture (including carpets) and the industry is responsible for 1% of the UK’s Carbon Footprint.

The government has identified four key actions that it is intending to take to address waste in the industry: